Everything is so polarized in politics today.
I don't believe in big conspiracies. Takes too many people without any weak links, almost impossible to orchestrate.
I also don't believe any politician is 100% virtuous. I don't believe every move by the Bush administration is done purely for the greater good.
The Bush administration can't control gas prices. Period.
The Bush administration can, and probably does influence gas prices. As other administrations have done in the past. Remember Clintion tapping the strategic reserve?
I don't believe that administrations can control the price of gasoline, but the oil companies can and, I believe, do. They tell us every year that the price of gas goes up in the summer because the demand goes up and, somehow, summer after summer, they're taken by surprise and just don't have enough supply. It's the darndest thing. Seriously though, an oil company's primary responsibility isn't getting fuel to its customers at a fare price. Providing energy is just a means to an end. The primary responsibility of a publically held companies is to make money for its stockholders. If you want a true market economy you just have to learn to deal with it.
During the 2000 election season, when gasoline prices were rising, Clinton released oil from the strategic reserve openly trying to force the retail price down for political gain.
During the 2004 election season, when gas prices were very high, and Bush's presidency hung in the balance, he refused to tap into the strategic reserve, even to save himself. The Dems had predicted he would do it, and were prepared to jump on him for it, but then when he didn't they attacked for not doing it.
He has only tapped into the reserve in the aftermath of Katrina briefly, and again briefly during the war in South Lebanon, if memory serves.
Reminds me of the anecdote concerning Ronald Reagan's first words upon entering the Oval Office after inauguration:
"Ok, where's that lever that controls the fuel prices?"